Zero Conditional

We use the so-called zero conditional when the result of the condition is always true, like a scientific fact.

Take some ice. Put it in a saucepan. Heat the saucepan. What happens? The ice melts (it becomes water). You would be surprised if it did not.

if

condition

result

Present Simple

Present Simple

If

you heat ice,

it melts.

Notice that we are thinking about a result that is always true for this condition. The result of the condition is an absolute certainty. We are not thinking about the future or the past, or even the present. We are thinking about a simple fact. We use the Present Simple tense to talk about the condition. We also use the Present Simple tense to talk about the result. The important thing about the zero conditional is that the condition always has the same result.

Look at these example sentences:

if

condition

result

Present Simple

Present Simple

If

I miss the 8 o'clock bus,

I am late for work.

If

I am late for work,

my boss gets angry.

If

people don't eat,

they get hungry.

If

you heat ice,

does it melt?

result

if

condition

Present Simple

Present Simple

I am late for work

if

I miss the 8 o'clock bus.

My boss gets angry

if

I am late for work.

People get hungry

if

they don't eat.

Does ice melt

if

you heat it?

We often use when instead of if, for example: When I get up late, I miss my bus.